Jeroen Zijlstra

IQ Membership: Regular

Year Joined: 2025

Country: The Netherlands
Languages: English, Dutch

Biography

Jeroen Zijlstra is a Dutch producer, director, cinematographer, and art director specializing in stop-motion animation and visual storytelling. He is the founder of Amsterdam-based 5 A.M. Studios, an award-winning animation house known for its handcrafted approach to filmmaking.

With more than 22 years of experience, Jeroen works across film, series, and commercial production, combining creative direction with a deep technical understanding of animation, model-making, practical effects, and cinematography. His work spans the entire production process, from story development and character, set, and prop design to shooting, post-production, and international co-production.

Through 5 A.M. Studios, Jeroen has collaborated on projects for international broadcasters, studios, agencies, and brands, with credits including Fireman Sam, Polly Pocket, Mega Man: Fully Charged, Rev & Roll, and the award-winning short SALEEG. His commercial work includes projects for Apple TV+, Emirates, AT&T, ProRail, HEMA, and international creative agencies.

Jeroen holds a B.A. in Animation, Visual Communication & Audiovisual Design from Academie Minerva and has completed masterclasses in Story Development, Screenwriting, and Character Development for Animation with Pixar Animation and the Vancouver Institute of Media Arts.

His work and productions have been recognized by the Netherlands Film Festival, Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Cinekid, the Dutch Creativity Awards, and other international festivals and industry platforms.

Filmography

Selected Filmography

Film & Series

New Look for Lion (2026) – Executive Producer / Production Studio
Trouble in Mind (2025) – Producer
In the Teeth of Time (2025) – Co-Producer / Production Studio
Wad Is, Is Nu (2025) – Executive Producer / Production Studio
House Trap (2024) – Executive Producer / Production Studio
Travel Bugs (2023) – Co-Producer
SALEEG (2022) – Co-Producer / Production Studio
The Chameleon (2022) – Co-Producer / Production Studio
Fireman Sam (2020) – Co-Producer / Executive Producer / Director / DP
Rev & Roll (2020) – Co-Producer / Executive Producer / Director / DP
Polly Pocket (2019–2020) – Co-Producer / Executive Producer / Director / DP
Mega Man: Fully Charged (2019) – Co-Producer / Executive Producer / Director / DP
Circus Fondantini (2018) – Co-Producer / Production Studio
Maple Mountain (2018–Present) – Producer / Director

Selected Commercial & Commissioned Work

Yo Gabba GabbaLand! (2024) – Producer / Director – Apple TV+
ProRail – Model Crashes (2023) – Producer
SEB – Transition in Numbers (2023) – Producer
Asahi Super Dry – Never Settle (2023) – Producer
Inside Prudential (2021) – Director
Cricket Wireless – Everyone Can Be a Friend (2020) – Producer / Director
60 Years “The Twist” (2020) – Producer / Director
Emirates – Hello Tomorrow (2013–2014) – Animation Director

Contact

Company: 5 A.M. Studios
Business Phone: +31 (0)20 8203624
Business Email: Hello@5am.studio
Business Address: Schaafstraat 26-F
City: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Business Zip/Postal Code: 1021 KE
Personal Phone: +31 (0)6 81902330
Personal Mail Address: Jeroen@5am.studio

Company Overview

5 A.M. Studios

Based in Amsterdam, 5 A.M. Studios is an award-winning animation house specializing in stop-motion, distinctive 2D animation, and high-end mixed-media storytelling.

Founded by Jeroen Zijlstra in the early 2000s, the studio grew from a boutique stop-motion operation into a full-service animation production company, driven by a passion for handcrafted filmmaking, practical effects, model-making, and character-driven storytelling.

At the heart of 5 A.M. Studios is a belief in human connection as the foundation of compelling stories and design. Combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary production techniques, the studio creates tactile, imaginative worlds while maintaining a strong focus on creative vision and technical precision.

5 A.M. Studios provides a complete production pipeline, encompassing story development, design, model-making, shooting, cinematography, post-production, and international co-production. Its portfolio spans independent films and series, branded entertainment, and high-profile commercial campaigns for clients and creative partners around the world.

The studio has collaborated internationally across film, television, advertising, and animation, with work recognized by the Netherlands Film Festival, Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Cinekid, the Dutch Creativity Awards, and other international industry platforms.

Today, 5 A.M. Studios continues to combine the tactile artistry of traditional animation with an international, collaborative approach to bringing original stories and imagined worlds to life, frame by frame.